Stitch-removing device.



B. B. MOGILVARY.

I STITCH REMOVING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APB.30, mos.

970,733, Patented Sept. 20, 1910.

1/ A ze ferred embodiment as and presenting UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EVANDER B. MGGILVARY, OF MADISON, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE MCGILVARYCOMPANY, OF MADISON, 'WISCONSIN,

A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

' STITCH-REMOVING DEVICE.

Patented Sept. 20, 1910.

Application'filed April 30, 1909. Serial No. 498,181.

specification.

My invention relates particularly to means for use in removing orunraveling stitches or threadsjas where it is. desired to remove a scamin a fabric or garment; and my primary object is to provide a device ofthe character indicated which may sewing-machine or be constructed as an1ndependent machine, and which will render thehitherto tedious operationof removing stitchesfrom cloth a comparatively easy and rapid operation,atthe same time removing the cut threads from'the cloth-a thing whichhas been impossible of accomplishment when a lock-stitch seam has beenripped by a cuttin blade playing between the materials sewed together.

Ihe invention is illustrated in its prean attachment'to a Singer sewingmachine, but it will be understoodthat it may be adapted for use withany sewing-machine, or it may be constructedas an independent machine,with suitable means for actuating the operative parts or the device.

It' may be stated preliminarily that my invention involves the use of ashoe, guard, or cloth-guiding member, adapted to lie above the plies ofmaterial of the. seam and carrying a thread-guide; shears, or clippers,so related to said thread-guide as to be adapted to clip. or curtail theend of one (the lower) thread when the other (the upper) thread is drawnthrough said guide, thereby pulling the lock-stitches progressively fromthe plies of material and freeing the extremity of the lower thread fromthe lock-stitch after each curtailing operation the same to theprogressive curtailing action of. said clippers; and means serving toactuate said clippers or shears with a continuous clippin operation,whereby the progressive" curtai ing of the lower thre'adroceedspractically continuw ousl although, Inft e preferred construction, saidshoe is a fikapresser foot, carried by the :presser-foot either beapplied as an attachment to a -to use to actuate the lever of course,intermittently.

' ner. The feed-device E com bar of a sewing-machine, and the shears orclipper is operated by the needle-bar, of the sewing-machine.

In the accompanying drawingFigure l is a broken sectional view of asewing-machine equipped with, my im roved stitchunrav'eling and clippingdevice; Fig. 2, a vertical sectional view of my improved device in theform of a sewing-machine attachment, the section being taken asindicated at line 2 of Fig. 3 Fig. 3, a plan view of said device orattachment; sectional view taken as indicated at line 4 of Fig. 2, withthe movable parts of the attachment removed; Fig. 5, a brokenperspective view'showing the preferred form of clipper and the actuatingmember therefor; Fig. (3, a broken sectional perspective viewillustrating the manner in which the upper thread of a lock-stitch seammay be employed for progressively pulling the lockstitches from the seamand subjecting the extremity ping or curtailing actlon of the clipperthe plies of sewed material being omitted from the view, however; Fig.7, a broken sectional view illustratin the manner of operation of footis lowered and the cloth-feeding mechanism of the sewin -machinedepended upon to advance the clot moving the seam; and Fig. 8, aperspective view showing a modification of the clipper.

In the construction illustrated A represents the bed-plate of the headof a sewin machine; B, the arm of the machine; the. needle-baryD, theresser-foot bar; E, a cloth-feeding device of well known constructionand operation; and F, my improved stitch unraveling and clip ingattachment carried by the presseroot bar and having a movable blade, orclipper, actuated by the needle-bar. t

The regular parts of the sewing-machine are of well-known constructionand o eration and need not be described in detai It may be stated,however, that the needle-bar isusually equipped with a collar 1 having a,lug,stud, or projection 2, which I prefer which actuates the movableshear-member. The presser foot bar D may be raised and lowered withrelation to the bed-plate A in the usual manpriscs a toothedreciprocating-member 3 which moves reap Fig. 4, a plan of'the lowerthread to the clipthe device w en the false presser- I i in theoperation of re-,

wardly while in the elevated position and which -1S depressed during itsreturn movement to enable it to takea fresh hold on, the cloth in theusual manner. I v

The attachment 'F comprises 'what may be termed a false resser-foot 4having a hori-- zontallydisposed shoe, or cloth engaging member, 5 andequipped with an-attaching shank 6' by-means of which the attachment maybe secured to the resser-foot bar, which is equipped with :a screw 7 astationary shear-member, or clipper-me1nber, 8, having its front edgedisposed adjacent to a 1 thread-admitting preferably transverse slot 9with which theshoe is provided at one lateral edge, said shear-member 8having a rearwardly-extending slot 10 intersecting the transverse slot9, thus affording shearedges 11 and l2,'said slot 10. beingopposite agroove, or'guide-slot 13 with which the shoe 5 is provided at the innerend of .the slot 9, and said shoe 5 being provided with a slot lt whichregisterswith the slot 10: of

the shear-member 8; a pivoted, oscillatory shear-member, orclipper-member, 15, mounted on' the shoe *5 and equipped withforwardly-projecting double-edged cutter-teeth,

or blades, 16 which co-act with the shoulders 11 and 12 of thestationary shear-member 8, said member having a fork, or

slotted portion, 17 through the medium of which it is actuated a pivotscrew 18 and spring-washer 19 by means of which the shear-member 15 isconnected with the shoe 5; a slide20 equipped with a forwardly anddownwardly extending I arm 21 carrying a cam-stud 22, which engages thefork 17 of theelipper-member -15, -said slide 20- having,

a guide-slot 23 connected by screws 24: which serve to attach the slideto a vertical member 25 with which the false presser-foot is equipped;and an actuating lever 26 which is connected by a pivot 27 with the'member 25 and which is equipped with a fork or slotted arm 28 whichengages the s'tud 2 carried by the needle-bar. The lever 26 has a fork,or slotted portion, 29 which engages an upwardly-extending member 30carried by the slide/20.

lhe shoe 5 of'the false presser-foot is adapted to co-act with themember 8 of the cloth-feeding mechanism of the sewing-machine and' iscarried by a vertical shank 31 depending from the front portion of aho'ri-- zontalane'mber 32 with which the attaching shank 6 is detachablyconnected, as by means of screws 33. Thus, any desired form ofattachingshank may be substituted for the shank 6 to adapt theattachment for connection with the presser-foot bar of anysewingmachiue. The shoe 5, shank 31, horizontal member 32 and member 25may be integrally formed from sheet metal by a suitable stampingoperation. The front edge portion of the shoe 5 is curved or beritepwardly, as indicated Jat34. The metal .thin as practicable at theshearing-slot .either as of the shoe 5 is swaged,"ground .or beveled.lndlcated at 35, to render the material the device, and thestationaryblade,

.sheanmember, 8 is formed of very thin mm 'terlal. The stationary bladelies on the upper surface of the shoe 5 and is provided at its rear edgewith a lug 36 which engages a slot 37 with which the shank 31 isprovided.- The member 8 virtually forms a part of the shoe, being formedseparately merely for the purpose'of tempering, and for-renewal,lf'worir- The screw 18 which serves to connect the upper shear-member,

' may, also, serve to connect the lower shearmember to the shoe 5', thescrew being suit ably shouldered for the purpose. According to the formillustrated, the lower, or stationary, shear-member 8 inclines forwardlyand downwardly somewhat, so that the shear-member l5 lies in a somewhatinclined plane. Accordingly, the screws 24, which connect the slide 20with the member 25, are

-so' disposed as to cause the slide to move in an inclined planeparallel with the inclined plane'in which the shear-member l5 lies. Theshoe 5 is equippedon its upper surface near the lateral edge'which isopposite the slot 9, with a lug 38, which carries a pair ofhorizontally-disposed studs 39 and 40 which are provided, respectively,with threadgrooves 41 and 42. -When the device is used with-the falsepresser-foot in the lowered position and co-acting withthe-feed-mechanism of the machine, it is preferred'to pass the rear ofthe guide 40, that is between the guide-40 and the guide 89. Then,however, it is desired to rely upon the\use of the upper thread to feedthe sewed material rearwardly in the operation of removing the seam,asymay be done-for the most ex'pes ditiousresults in the-case of all butlight materials, it is preferred to pass the upper thread over therear'most guide-member 39, as shown in 2, so that the thread willoperate to drawthe sewed material rear the upperthread of thelock-stitch seam inv wardly as the operation progresses. In

case, the pulling thread passes" through the guide-slot 13 which has 111ad Vance of. the shearing-slot 10, and the lateral; 'walls, of theguide-slot 13 serve to prevent 5, in position to engage the shank 30 ofthe slide. The slot 43 of the fork 29 is purposely made wide withrelation to the shank 30, so that the oscillating clipper will not beoscillated through an unnecessarily large .10 are in the clippingoperation.

In Fig. 8, 44 represents an oscillating clipper-member of practicallythe same form as the clipper-member 15, but provided with onecutting-tooth 45 instead of a plurality 15 of cutting-teeth. It ispreferred to use a plurality of cutting-teeth, however, and to give tothe movable clipper-member a wide enough range of oscillation to carrythe several cutting-teeth or blades transversely across the shearmg-slot10 of the stationary shear-member in both directions in every completereciprocation of the needle-bar C. In Figs. 2 and 7, 46 and 47 representthe ples of material in a seam in which the materials are joined by lockstitches of false presser-foot occupies threads 48 and 49. In Fig. .6,the same threads are shown with the plies of material removed.

Fig. 2 represents the operation when the the elevated position and theupper thread 48 is depended upon, not only to dislodge the extremity ofthe lower thread and present it to the curtailing operation of theclippers, but also to feed the sewed plies of material rearerationprowardly as the seam-removing o erstood that gresses. Thus, it will -beun when the false presser-foot occupies the ele-- vated position, thefeed-mechanism E of the machine is not depended upon for feedingv theplies of material rearwardly. This is the preferred method of operatingthe device where the plies of material are suflioiently firm to enablethe operation to be carried on without danger of drawing the materialinto the shearing-slot 10 and subjecting the material to the cuttingaction of the clipper.- Only in cases of very delicate -fabr1cs, such asthin silks, is there 50 danger of the material being drawn into the slot10 and cut by the clipper; and where stitches are to be removed fromsuch delicate materials, it is preferred to employ the false resser-footin the depressed position and .5 depend upon the operation of themechanand enter the slot 10. The operation, d

threa ism E to feed the material. Thus, the ma-' terial is held somewhatclosely confined between the member 3 and the shoe 5, so that noopportunity is afforded for it to wrinkle epending on the feed of deviceE approximately adjusted to the length of stitch to be removed, will beslower than when the false resser-foot is raised and the ulling thendepended upon '48 depended upon to feed t e ma- Q terial but the dangerof injuring the delicate fabrics will be obviated.

The operation may be stated briefly. When it is desired to rely upon thefeedmechanism E to feed the plies of material, the resser-foot bar D islowered to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 7, and the material is fedbeneath the shoe 5 in the same manner that materials arefed beneath thepresser-foot of a sewing-machine in the operation of sewing. The upperthread 48 of the seam is entered through the lateral slot 9 of the shoeand engaged in the guideslot 13 of the shoe and the thread is also'entered between the ends of the laterally projecting studs 39 and 40and engaged in the groove 42 of the stud 40. The machine is thenoperated, and as the needle-bar O reci rocates, it serves, through themedium of the lever 26 and slide 20, to oscillate the clipper-member I15. The operator pulls gently upon the upper thread 48, therebyprogressively pulling the lock-stitches from the seam and presenting thesuccessive endportions of the'lower thread in the shearingslot 10, wherethe thread is subjected to the clipping or curtailing action of theclipper. In the operation, the upper thread 48 is drawn wholly from theseam, and as only the successive end ortions of the lower thread areclip ed, 1t follows that the lower thread is who ly removed from'theseam,

so that it is unnecessary to pick any portions of the threads from theplies of material after the seam has been subjected to the operation ofmy improved device.

Where the plies of material are sutliciently firm, the resser-foot bar Dis left in the elevated position, and the upper thread is to not onlydislodge the end-portions of the-lower thread and subject t e same tothe curtailing action of the clipper, but is also depended u on to feedthe plies of material rearward y. In any case, the guide-slot with whichthe shoe 0f the false resser-foot is equipped serves to keep the seam inalinement with the shearing-slot 10 of the stationary shearmember, sothat the successive end-portions of the progressively curtailed lowerthread will be caused to enter with certainty the shearing-slot 10. Itis observed that the bottom of' the guide-slot '13 serves as a. shoulderada ted to prevent undue unraveling of the ock-stitches as the operationrogresses, so that the projectin end of the ower thread which ispresente in the slot 10 will always besufliciently' short to insurethemequisite resilient action of the thread in causin the extremity topass-into the slot 10. t is noted that the resilient washer 19 serves asa springyvhich alwa s keeps-the movable shear memb erylb in 0 08a engagementfwith the stationary shear-membe'ru While, in the constructionillustrated, the

" forthe sole purpose of removing stitchesor I pulling thread 48-i'sdrawn upon by hand length of the seam.

' for the purpose of progressively pulling out the lock-stitches of thescam, the invention isnot limited to such operation. Inthe species ofthe invention disclosed in my application No. 399,806, filed October30,1907,

' there is employed mechanism for exerting a pulling force upon onethread of the seam,

thereby to dislodge the successive end-portions of the other thread andpresent'the same to the curtailing action of the shears.

The gist of the invention lies in providing thread-clipping meansadapted to WOIkon one side of the seam, or sewed plies of material, asdistinguished from thread-cutting means adapted to work between theplies of the seam; and, in practice, it is essentialfto providethread-guiding -means of suitable character and so related to thethread-clip ping means as to permit one thread to be employed toprogressivelyopull the lock stitchesfrom the plies of material and bringthe successive endportions of the other thread within the range of thecutting action.

of the clipper. It is important to provide in association With suchmeans,-'means forfeeding the seam withrelation to the threadclip'pingmeans, so that in operating upon delicate fabrics the dangerof cuttingthe fabric may, with greater certainty,- be-obv'iated.

It is noteworthy that the shears work continuously so as to enable themto efiect curtailing ot'the successively presented endportions of thethread as fast as the same are presented in the shearing-slot in theoperation of the machine. WVhenthe feedinechanism vE isemployed, itoperates, of

course,.'- to' feed the plies progressively through spaces correspondingwith thestitchllhe invention hasbeen illustratedand described in detailfor clearness of underart; For illustration, it maybe stated that whileit is convenient to provide the device standing only. Hence, no unduelimitation sh0uld be understood therefrom, but the 'appended clain-isshould be construed as broadly as permlssibl'e inview of the prior inthe, form of a sewing-machine attach-- ment, thereby adapt ing thedevice to householdjuse, it willbe at once understood that practicallythe same construction and operaand various accessories of asewing-machinetion may be obtainedin a special machine seams, in whichthe needle, bobbin, shuttle,

are omitted. qln'ja'ny case, it -is convenient to employ a verticallyadjustable bar in the natureof a presser foot ba r, and a verticallyreciprocating barin the nature of a needleb'ai'. Any suitableshear-actuating and shoe-adjusting devices may be employed,

h0Wever.-' i

It is to beobserved thatin c'ertainoir the by Letters Patent, is-

appended claims I. employ the term clothfeeding means or an equivalentexpression, meaning therebyto include means for feeding piles of anymaterial which are sewed together to form a seam. The cloth ispreferably fed-in'a horizontal plane,'and the thread-clipping means ispreferably located at theupper side of said plane. v

, The device may be constructed to-remove any threads or strandsemployed to sew materials together, regardless of the material of thethreads or strands. The word seam is employedto include any line ofstitching of .the. lock-stitch type,

whether the ordinary seam compris ng plain relation thereto as to enableone thread of I the seam, when drawn through said threadgulde, to.disengage the extremity of the,

other thread from the lock-stitch and present i said extremity to thecurtailing actionof said shears, and shear-actuating means.

'2. -In-v a seam-remover, the combination of a member adapted to lie incontact with the sewed'material on one side of the plies thereof, athread-guide carried thereby adapted to receive the upper thread, of theseam, and of such character that said thread may be drawn therethroughand caused to dislodge the extremity of the lowerthread', and suit- 5ably actuated shears receiving said dislodged extremity and effectingcurtailing thereof.

3. In a seam-remover, the comblnation of a shoe carrying a stationaryshearing-shoul- -.der, a movable shear-member having a for- Witl'(lly1)()I]ltI'11g blade which moves transversely to meet said stationaryshearingshoulder, and means permitting one'thread to be drawn upwardlyslightly in front of-Q the -cuttlug-members, While confined in properrelation to-pro, ;resslvely- Pull out the-lock-stitches from a seamlying beneath said shoe,' dislodge the successive end por-r,

tions of the otherthread and interpose the same between saidshear-members.

4. Ina seam-remover, the combination with "thread-clipping means andsupporting means therefor, of a thread-guide of such character as'to'enable-one thread ofa seam\ to be drawn therethrough under tensionand v 4 through the medium thereof'to maintain the scam in alinemcnt'with the thread clipping means, anditlH'ead Qonfinin'g means in advanceof said shears serving to prevent undue unraveling, whereby said threadopertionary shear-member provi oscillating shear member surmountin saidfirst-named shear-member and equippec with pa. dolible-edgedcutting-tooth, a spring confining said movable shear-member in closecontact with said stationary shear-member,

means for oscillating said movable shearmember, and means for guiding athread adacent to but slightly out of range of said shear-members.

24:. In means of the character set forth, the combination of a. shoeequi ped with a staded with a shear- -ing-slot,-an oscillatingshear-member pro- -"shan'k',"'a forwardly extending shoe and a verticalmember located atone side of said shank, a stationary shear-membercarried by said shoe and provided with a shearingslot, an oscillatingshear-member, a forwardly and rearwardly movable slide connected withsaid vertical member and serving to actuate said oscillatingshear-men'lber,

, and a lever pivotally supported on said vertical member and serving toactuate said slide, said lever having a forwardly extending arm adaptedfor actuation by the needle-bar of a sewing-machine.

26. In means of the character set forth, the combination of a shoeadapted to lie above the seam to be operated upon and carrying astationary shearing-shoulder, a movable shear-member surmounting thesaid shoe, and a pair of thread-guides located one in advance of theother above said shoe, and adapted to be separately used for guiding onethread of the seam in the seamremoving operation.

27. In means of the character set forth, the combination of a shoecarrying a stationary shearing-shoulder, a movable shearmembersurmoun'ting said shoe and co-acting with said shearing-shoulder, meansfor supporting said shoe above the plies of a seam, a thread-guide onsaid shoe in substantially the plane thereof, and a threadguide abovesaid shoe in the rear of said first-named thread-guide, whereby onethread of the seam, when pulled throu 'h said guides, will serve toprogressivdly draw 'the lock-stitches from the seam and subject thesuccessive end-portions of the other thread to the clipping action ofsaid shear-members.

28. In a device of the character set forth, an attachment comprising anattachingshank, a shoe supported thereby and having a rearwardly andupwardly inclined upper surface, --a stationary inclined shear-memberlying adjacent to. said upper surface and provided with a shearing-slot,an oscillating shear-member surmounting said first-named shear-memberand lying in a plane parallel therewith and having a forwardly directedcutting-tooth adapted ,to move across said shearing-slot, and anactuating slide for said second-named shear-member mounted to move on aninclined way parallel with the plane of said shear-members.

' '29. In means of the character set forth,

the combination of a shoe having an upturned front end and rovided witha shearing-slot with a latera shearing-shoulder, a thread-guide inadvance of said shearingslot, a movable shear-member having a bladeadapted to point forwardly and move transversely across saidshearing-slot and means for actuating said movable shear-member.

30. In a seam-remover, the combination of a member adapted to lie on oneside of the piles of sewed material and carrying a thread-guide disposedclose to the seam, and continuously working shears disposed near saidthread-guide and in such relation thereto as to enable one thread of theseam, when drawn through said guide, to disengage the extremity oftheother thread from the lock- 7 stitch and resent said extremity'to thecurtailing action of said shears.

31. In a seam-remover, the combination of a member adapted to lie incontact with the sewed material on one side of the plies thereof, athread-guide carried thereby adapted to receive the upper thread of theseam, whereby said thread may be drawn therethrough and caused todislodge the extremity of the lower thread, and continuously-workingshears receiving said dislodged extremity and effecting curtailingthereof.

32. In a seam-remover, the combination of a shoe carrying a stationaryshearingshoulder, a continuously-working shearmember which movestransversely to meet said stationary shearing-shoalder, and meanspermitting one thread to be drawn upwardly slightly in front ofthe-cutting-members, thereby to progressively pull out the lockstitchesfrom a seam lying beneath said shoe, dislodge the successiveend-portions of the other thread and interpose the same between saidshear-members.

33. In a seam-remover, the combination with continuously-workingthread-clipping means and supporting means therefor, of a thread-guideservingto receive one thread of a. seam and through the medium thereofto maintain the scam in alinement with the thread-clipping means, andthread-confining means in advance of said shears serving to preventundue unraveling, 'whereby said thread operates, when pulled, tosuccessively pull the lock-stitches from the seam, dislodge thesuccessive" end-portions of the other threadandsubject the same to thecurtailing action of 'said clipping means.

- ing with said stationary shear-member,

whereby one thread of a seam-may be drawn -through said thread-guideand-caused -to progressively pull the lock-stitcl1es-from the seam andsubject the successive end portions vof the other thread to-thecuttingaction of said shears.

35. In means of the character set forth,-

the combination with a stationary shearmember and means-for supportingthe same above the plies of the seam, said stationary shear-memberhaving a forwardly-extendlng shearing-slot, of a thread-guide serving todirect one thread of the seam slightlyin advance of said shearing-slot,whereby one thread otthe seam may be employed to proemployed toprogressively pull the stitches from the seam and present the suc-;

gressivel'y draw the lockstitches from the seam and dislodge thesuccessive end-portions of the other thread and cause'the same to. entersaid shearing-slot, and a continuously-workmg shear-member equlpped witha blade adapted to point forwardly and. move transversely across saidshearing-slot,

for the purpose set forth.

,36. In means of the character set forth, the combination of a bedadapted to support fabrics, a shoe supported above-said bed and in suchrelation thereto as to enable the tab rics to bepassed between saidshoeand bed, continuously-working thread-clipping means carriedbysaidshoe and thread-guiding means adapted to guide one thread of theseam slightly in advance of the thread-clipping means, whereby saidthread may ie cessive end-portions of the other thread to the curtailingaction of said thread-clipping means.

' '37. In means of, the character set-forth, the combination of a bedadapted to support plies of material, a shoe disposed above said v bedvertically-adjustable means carrying ear clipping means mounted on saidshoe, and means for guiding'a thread slightly in advance of saidthread-clipping means, whereby one thread ofa seam may be employed toprogressively .,pull the lock stitch es from the seam and subject thesuccessive endportions of the. other thread to the curtailing action ofsaid thread-clipping means.

shoe, continuously-working thread 38. In a seam-remover, the combinationof amembef adapted to lie on one side of'the plies of sewed materialandcarrying a thread-guide disposed close to the seam, said guidecommunicating with aslot "opening. out-ward, and shears disposed nearsaid thread-guide and in such relation thereto as to enable one threadofthe seam, when drawn through said thread-guide, to disengage theextremity of the other thread from the lock-stitchand present saidextremity to the curtailing action of said shears, and shear-actuatingmeans. 'i

39. In a seam-remover, the combination of a member adapted to lie incontact with the sewed material on one side of the plies thereof, athread guide carried thereby adapted to receive the upper thread of theseam through an opening communicating with said thread-guide,wherethrough said thread may be drawn and placed inposition in saidthread-guide and caused to dislodge the ex te'mity of the lower thread,and suitably actuated shears receiving said dislodged extremity andeifecting curtailing thereof.

40. In aseam-remover, the combination of a shoe carrying a stationaryshearing-shout der, a movable shear-member having a blade which movestranst'ersely to meet said stationary shearing-shoulder, and meanspermitting one thread to be drawnnpwardly' slightly in front of thecutting-members,

said meanscommunicating'with means for admitting the thread thereto,thereby to progressively. pull outfthe lock-stitches from aseam lyingbeneath said shoe, dislodge the successive end-portions of the otherthread members. i

41. In a seamremover, the comblnation and interpose the same betweensaid shearwith thread-clipping means and supporting means therefor, of athread-guide serving to receive one thread of a seam through any;

opening communicating therewith and to' maintain the scam in alinement'with the thread-clipping means, and thread-confining means in advance ofsaid shears serving to prevent undue unraveling, whereby said threadoperates, when pulled. to successively pull the lock-stitches from'theseam, dis- ;lodge the successive end-portions of the other thread andsubject the same tofthe curtailing action of said clipping means.

42. In a seam-remover,thecombination of a a stationary'shear-member andmeans for supportingthe same at one side of theplies ofa seam, athread-guide inadvance of said stationary shear-member having lateralthread-confining walls and a front threadconfining wall andcommunicating with an opening outward, said thread-gui her, a movableshear-member. in the rearof said thread-guide and coac ting with saidstationary shear-member, and means for ac-.

de being disposed close to said stationary shear-mem tuatingsaidin'ovable shear-member, where'- by one thread of a seam may be drawnthrough said' thread-guide and caused to progressively pulL thelock-stitches from the seam and subject the successive end-portions ofthe other thread to the cutting action of said shears. 1

43. In means of the character set forth,

"the combination with a stationary shearmember and means for supportingthesame.

above the plies of the seam, said stationary shear-member-having aforwardly-extending shearing-slot, a thread-guide serving to di-' rectone thread of the seam slightly in' ad'- shearing-slot, a movableshear-member equipped with a blade adapted to, move transversely acrosssaid shearing-slot, and

means for continuously working said m0v-' Vance of said shearing-slot,and an opening communicating therewith serving for the admission ofthethread, whereby one thread'of the seam may be employed to progressivelydraw the lock-stitches from the seam and dislodge the successiveend-portions of the other thread and cause the same to enter said ableshear-member.

44. Inmeans of the character set forth, the combination of a bed adaptedto so port fabrics, a shoe supported above said bed and in such relationthereto as to enable the fabrics to'be passed between said shoe and bed,

thread-clipping means carried by said shoe, thread-guiding means ada tedto 'ide one thread of the seam slightly in a Vance of thethread-clipping means, and thread-introducing means communicating withsaid thread-guiding means, whereby said thread. I may be employed toprogressively pull the lock-stitches from the seam and I successiveend-pprtions of the ot er thread to the curtailing action of saidthread-clip ping means. a t

5. In means of the character set forth,

the combination of a bed adapted to sup:

port plies ofmaterial, a shoe disposed above said bed,vertically-adjustable means carrying said shoe thread-clipping meansmounted onsaid shoe, and means for guiding a thread slightly in advanceof said threadclipping means, said/thread-guiding means communicatingwith thread-introducing means, whereby one thread of a seam may beemployed toprogressively all the lockstit'chcs from the seam and subjectthe sucresent the cessive end-portions of the'other thread to thecurtailing action of said thread-clipping means. a y

46. In means of the/character set forth, cloth-feeding means, a shoedisposed above the same, vertically adjustable means carry- 'ring. said.shoe, a vertically reciprocating member, a stationary shear-membercarried mounting said shoe and coacting with said ber carrying saidshoe, a stationary shearmember carried by said. shoe, a movable callyreciprocating actuating member, and operative connections between saidlastnamed member and said movable shear- .ated .with each reciprocationof said actuatoccupies the e evated position or the depressed position.j

48. In means of the'character set forth, the combination with means forfeeding the seam pro ressively step by step, the feed seam,thread-clipping means, means enabling one thread of the seam toprogressively present the successive end-portion of the other thread tothe curtailing action of said thread-cli ping means, and. means for actuating sai thread-clippin means continuously, at a .rapid rate, w erebythey will serve to erform the curtailing action as the seam' a vancesthrough successive stitchlengths.

In presence of- J. GQANDERSON,

R. A. SGHAEFER.

stationary shear-member, connections be-- tween sald verticallyreciprocating member shear-member carried by said'shoe, a vertimember,whereby said shear-member is actu-' 'in'g member re ardless of .whethersaid shoe' correspon ing with'the stitch-length of the.

"EVAND'E'R: B. MoGILVARY.

by said shoe, a movable shear-member sur- 3 feeding means,fa verticallyadjustable mem- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

arnx'annnn M cLENNAN, or 'LoNnon, nuorann TREATMENT LEATHER WITHINDIA-RUBBER.

No Drawing.

Specification of Letters retest. rat n'temsept. 20, 1910. "Applicationfiled SeptemberfiB, 1909. Serial No. 519,981..

To all whom it may comerm' Be it.-known that I, ALEXANDER MLEN- NAN, asubject of the King of Great Britain, residing in London, England, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in the Treatment of Leatherwith India-Rubber, ofwhichthe followin is a specification.

ThlS invention r ates to an improved processfor the treatmentof leatherwith rubber.

In carrying the invention into efi'et the leather is first subjected toany well known v fat liquoring process which has the effect of not onlysoftening it so that it can be more conveniently handled or worked,butat the same time should the leather be dry causes the pores of theleather, which have contracted to expand. The hides after the liquoringtreatment are secured to tlie dry-- are removed ing frames from whichthe whendry and bufi'ed upon t e flesh side in order toraise-the fiber.-After the latter treatment the hides are, treated with a so lution,designed to kill the fats or oils in the leather-and hereinafterreferred to as a. clarifying solution, in which they may be immersed, orwhich solution may be s rayed or otherwise ap lied to them, and a terthe about 48 hours. The clari application of t e solution they are lacedin a hermetically closed vessel in whic they r'emaln for a suitableperiod accordin to the weight and character of the hide,-w ich periodwith hides of averaggweight will be ing solution to which the hide isfirst su jected' may be composed of thefollowin ingredients in about theproportions speci ed, the said proportions and ingredients however beingmodified to suit the quantity or character of'the hides. The proportions'ven below are however such as I have foun to be suit able for .lchrometanned hides of average I weight and ,would be suflicient in quantity totreat from 15 to 20 of such hides :-'-powdered sulfur, 1 1b., carbonbisulfid 4 lbs. The mixture is allowed to stand for a period of 48 hourswith occasional agitation, at the end of which eriod it is strained, andto the liquid resi us is added a second mixture adapted to precipitatethe undissolved sulfur and also. kill or dissolve out fats.The'following mixture is one which I have found verysultable for thispur ose, but I do not confine myself to its use. ulfuric ether 12 oz.,benzol 10 oz. to 12 oz., coal tar naphtha 10 oz., petroleum benzin 6oz., kerosene 4 oz.,rect1fied spirit of turpentine 4 oz. Thesequantities are those suitable for addition to 5 lbs. of the carbonbi-sulfid solution for the treatment of average hides.-

held in suspension int e liquid so that the pores of the hide shall notbecome choked up, the liquid may be a ain subjected to the strainingoperation. fter. th1s treatment thehides are removed and dried by heat,

and when dry and while still warm are treated with a solution containingrubber.

While the: preparation of the aforesaid rubber solutions may be effectedin any convenient manner I find in practice that it is convenient toprepare a stock solution of the rubber which may be prepared bydissolving 1 lb. of Para rubber m from 1 gal. to

2 or more gals. of naphtha according to the condition or purity of therubber. Obviouslyjother rubber than Para rubber may be employed but whensuch other rubber isused it ay be necessary to increase either theproportion of the rubber or of the naphtha. Instead of naphtha any othersuitable rubber solvent may be used, such for example, as carbonbisulfid or benzol.

In pre arlng the first bath from the stock solution ordmaril takeequalparts of the rubber solution an benzin, the hide being treated therewithas aforesaid; the roportions of the rubber'and benzin wil however,depend upon the condition of the stock solution.- 1 I .The hides whilein the rubber solution are heated and with this object the vessel may bejacketed so that steam, water, or-other means may be employed and thetemperature of the said vesse' perature may range from 80 to 100 'Fahr.and the period of treatment may extend from 2 .to 5 days in eachbath..It will, however, be evident that the weight, nature'and ori in of thehides must in all cases be consi ered and the treatment modifiedaccordin ly.

The hides during the foregoing treatment regulated. The tem-

